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Lancers win Battle E
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Inside Flight Deck Control
FROM THE EDITOR
“No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.” ~Proverb As we enter March, we find ourselves nearly three months past our departure from Everett, and less than three weeks from the beginning of spring. And Mighty Abe keeps charging ahead like a lion, working hard every day to keep the peace on the high seas. Don’t believe me? Why, inside these very pages are yet two more tales of award-winning performances by Lincoln Sailors. Congratulations (we never get tired of saying that around here) to Lt. Megan Donnelly, the top female junior officer in the Navy this year, and the second Lincoln Sailor in a row to earn a Joy Bright Hancock leadership award. Congratulations also go out to the Lancers of VAQ-131 for winning the 2012 squadron Battle “E” award. We’ll be out here all spring, and into the summer. Who can say how many more achievements we’ll have to celebrate?
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Lincoln’s New Fathers See Children for First Time Via Video Connection Story and photo by MC3 Tim D. Godbee
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ew fathers deployed aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) held video teleconferences (VTC) with their families in Everett, Wash., Feb. 27. Lincoln is the first aircraft carrier in the fleet to set up a VTC system specifically for Sailors and families while deployed. VTCs are held regularly throughout the week for ship’s company and air-wing personnel. “The VTC program is similar to Skyping, but it’s on a military secure network,” said Chief Religious Programs Specialist Elliot Warley IV, leading chief petty officer of the Religious Ministries department aboard Lincoln and the person who spearheads the program. “It allows Sailors to see their families while they talk and in some cases fathers see their children for the first time, so it’s a lot more personal than a phone call.” All Sailors with immediate family members still at their homeport are eligible for the program, however, fathers who have had a child born while on deployment have priority. “It gave me a chance to meet my son for the first time,” said Chief Aviation Electronics Technician David Pickle. “I’ve seen pictures and videos of him, but that was the first time I’ve gotten to see him in real time. It’s different.” VTC systems are normally reserved for high-ranking officers for operational purposes. In order to set the system up for individual use, the Combat Systems department ordered and set up the VTC system and the Religious
Ministries department had to coordinate times and dates to hold the VTC with the various bases where the ship and air wing have families. Once signed up for the VTC program, Sailors are responsible for communicating to their families the times and places of the VTCs. The VTC was relatively easy to set up, said Pickle. He sent his wife an e-mail telling her when and where it would be held. If any changes were made, the command where the VTC was held would contact his spouse and inform her of those changes. “Deployments are normally long and hard on families, especially new fathers,” said Warley. “VTCs are the best way to decrease the deployment stress on both sides. For fathers of newborn babies who are missing a lot of their children’s lives, with the VTC, even though they can’t physically be there, they can be a part of those lives even though they’re thousands of miles away.” “It makes the fact that I’m a father a little more real,” said Pickle. “Even though he slept through most of it, to see my son and my wife live in one shot helped it all sink in.” Pickle was in the Navy when e-mail was first introduced aboard ships and entire divisions shared one e-mail address. He noted the progress the Navy has made since then to keep Sailors and their families connected. Continued under ‘VTC,’ Pg. 15
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Lincoln Sailor Wins Capt. Hancock Leadership Award Recognized for outstanding leadership and dedication
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he Navy announced an officer serving aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) won the 2012 Capt. Joy Bright Hancock Leadership Award in the junior officer category, Feb. 12. Lt. Megan Donnelly, assistant strike operations officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, said that it is a tremendous honor to be selected from among the many junior officers throughout the Navy. “It’s beyond anything I ever thought I would see, but it’s definitely an honor,” Donnelly said. “There’s a lot of history with Capt. Bright Hancock.” The award, sponsored by the Sea Service Leadership Association (SSLA) and the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), honors female leaders annually from the enlisted and officer communities whose ideals and dedication foster a positive working environment and who reinforce and further the integration of women into more roles throughout the Navy. This marks the second consecutive year a Lincoln Sailor has been selected to receive a Hancock Award. In 2011, Command Master Chief Susan Whitman won the award in the senior enlisted category. Donnelly, a P3-C Orion pilot by trade, is primarily responsible for creating the daily flight plan that governs everything that occurs on the flight deck, from flight operations to training exercises. “It sounds pretty straightforward, but in practice, it’s quite complicated,” said Cmdr. Daniel Gordon, Lincoln’s strike operations officer. “There are 14 separate and distinct departments - as well as the air wing - that are all competing over the daily scheduled events. A large part of the job is ensuring that events are not scheduled on top of each other. If they are, then they need to be able to co-exist.” Gordon credits Donnelly with being an integral part of his office and to the ship’s mission as a whole. “Without her expertise and knowledge of how the pieces fit together on a daily basis, the ship’s training and war fighting capabilities would be significantly degraded,” said Gordon. In addition to her responsibilities in the Strike
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Operations Office, Donnelly is one of only two females aboard Lincoln who are qualified to stand watch on the Bridge as officer of the deck (OOD). “Having a strong female role model in a position of authority is very valuable for the young Sailors to see, especially how she handles herself on the Bridge as the OOD,” Gordon said. “Bridge watchstanders get a firsthand experience of how to be a professional female officer and how to do it with confidence and authority.” Donnelly said the ideals of service and hard work she received from her parents, her training as a 2002 graduate of the Naval Academy and the positive mentors she has had throughout her career have helped her become a successful Sailor and leader. “I always want to do the best I can. I’ve always been competitive and hard working,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of good mentors, both male and female. I think I’ve been able to look at their leadership styles and see how they best work for me.” Gordon said that the biggest factor in Donnelly’s success is her confidence. “She knows what needs to be done, she knows how to do it, and she doesn’t need any prompting to get it done,” he said. “I give her a task and not only do I not have to follow up on anything, but I know that it will get done in a timely fashion, and it will be done correctly.” Donnelly feels it’s important for her to be a leader and role model for all Sailors, not just females, though she acknowledged that females have a special set of traits that they can bring to leadership roles in the Navy. “There are a lot of things that women are good at that translate very well into military leadership,” she said. “Things like compassionate leadership and multi-tasking. It’s good to develop those traits and show some of the women that are more junior, ‘Hey, you’ve got some really good traits, and there is a place for you here. There is value in your skill set. Stay in and be a leader.’” Story and photo by MC2 Jonathan Idle
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U.S. Navy photo by MCSA Josh Walters
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he Lancers of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 were named the 2011 Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF) Pacific Fleet Battle Efficiency (“E”) winners for the VAQ Carrier Air Wing (CVW) category, Feb. 10. The aviation Battle “E” is the Navy’s top performance award presented to the squadron in each competitive category that achieves the highest standards of performance readiness and efficiency. The award recognizes a unit’s training and operational achievements, while including a balance that creates incentives for efficiency. “I am extremely proud of each and every member of the Lancer Team. It has been a great year for the squadron as well as for the entire Air Wing, and it is an honor and privilege to be recognized for the hard work everyone has put in,” said Cmdr. Stephen Flaherty, VAQ-131 commanding officer. “Our job is to provide support to U.S. and coalition forces on the ground and in the air when called upon, and to do that we always strive to perform at our best,” added Flaherty. “The members of this squadron work hard
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at everything they do, and I think earning the Battle ‘E’ is evidence of that work ethic.” Cmdr. Richard Knapp, VAQ-131’s executive officer, echoed Flaherty’s sentiments. “I believe the Battle ‘E’ is the ultimate teamwork award,” said Knapp. “In a year where so many units were deployed or detached, and in a year where so many performed so well, it is a humbling experience to be named.” The Lancers were busy in 2011, starting the year off on a combat deployment aboard Lincoln, followed by multiple activities such as carrier qualifications, a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), L.A. Navy Week and detachments to Mountain Home Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Fallon. They completed the year once again on deployment with Lincoln. “I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate each and every one of you on your selection as the Battle ‘E’ squadron,” said Capt. Dave Silkey, commander, CVW 2. “Unlike any other award the squadron can win, this one sets itself apart because it is recognition of the whole team, from maintainers to aviators; everyone has a voice in the pursuit of the Battle ‘E’.” Story by Lt. Josh Lang
U.S. Navy photo by MCSN Ben Liston
VAQ -131 Lancers win 2011Battle‘E’ Award
U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Brian Morales
U.S. Navy photo by MCSN Ben Liston
U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Tim D. Godbee
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imitz-class aircraft carriers are among the most powerful warships the history mankind, imitz-class aircraftin carriers areofamong the owing most to the ability of carriers to launch and recover powerful warships in the history of mankind,aircraft owing continuously and simultaneously from anywhere in the to the ability of carriers to launch and recover world. aircraft continuously and simultaneously from anywhere in Aboard Lincoln, the Sailors who work in Flight Deck the world. Control man their stations 30 minutes prior to flight operations Aboard Lincoln, the Sailors who work in Flight Deck and remain there for the duration--workdays sometimes last Control man their stations 30 minutes prior to flight operations up to 16 hours. Any movement of aircraft, whether on the and remain there for the duration--workdays sometimes last flight deck or in the hangar bay, and any maintenance being up to 16 hours. Any movement of aircraft, whether on the performed on the flight deck must first go through them. flight“It’s deckFlight or in Deck the hangar bay, and any maintenance being Control’s responsibility to keep the performed on the flight deck must first go through them. handling officer informed of what’s happening on the deck,” Flight Boatswain’s Deck Control’s responsibility keepClass the said “It’s Aviation Mate (Handling) to2nd handling officer informed of what’s happening on the deck,” Christofer Smead. “He’s in charge of anything that requires the said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class movement of aircraft. We’re basically extra eyes for him.” Christofer Smead.man “He’s in charge anything that requires These Sailors a small scaleof replica of the flight deck the movement of aircraft. We’re basically extra eyes for and hangar bay, which they refer to as “the Ouija board,” him.” complete with small models representing all the aircraft on TheseUsing Sailors manmodels, a smallthey scalesimulate replica of the flight deck Lincoln. these every movement and hangar bay, which they refer to as “the Ouija board,” made by embarked aircraft. complete small models representing the aircraft on Nearlywith every operational element of all flight operations Lincoln. Using in these models, simulate every movement is represented Flight Deckthey Control, including handling, made byordinance embarkedand aircraft. fueling, maintenance. Nearly are every operational element of flight operations “There people of all ranks and rates in Flight Deck is represented in together Flight Deck Control, including Control that work to make it functional,” saidhandling, Aviation fueling, ordinance and maintenance. Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Cynthia M. Allen. “We arewhere peopleevery of allplane ranksonand Flight need“There to know therates flightindeck is Deck at all Control that work together to make it functional,” said times.” With Boatswain’s upward of 40 aircraft on theAirman flight deck at any Aviation Mate (Handling) Cynthia M. given flightwhere deck control requires Allen.time, “We working need to in know every plane on discipline, the flight attention and the ability to multi-task. deck is attoalldetail times.” “It’s about attention to detail,” saidflight Smead. “If at you’re Withall upward of 40 aircraft on the deck any put in time, a position to work in Flight Deck Control, means the given working in flight deck control requiresit discipline, upper chain command youtoand has taken note of your attention to of detail and thetrusts ability multi-task. abilities. It’s a privilege.” “It’s all about attention to detail,” said Smead. “If you’re Allen said thattomulti-tasking is one of Control, the mostitdifficult put in a position work in Flight Deck means parts of working in Flight Deck Control. It’s not unusual to the upper chain of command trusts you and has taken note of have to take and account for four different requests from your abilities. It’s a privilege.” different flight operations is at one the same Allenareas said of that multi-tasking of thetime. most difficult working in Flight Deck ControlIt’s cannot be demanding partsThough of working in Flight Deck Control. unusual to and stressful, it also provides Sailors with opportunities to have to take and account for four different requests from learn about almost all the aspects of flight operations. different areas of flight operations at the same time. “Just working in in there, you learn a lot,”can said “You Though working Flight Deck Control beAllen. demanding learn about allit also the responsibilities the opportunities squadron, fuel, and stressful, provides Sailorsofwith to handlers–You learn everything about Air department.” learn about almost all the aspects of flight operations. Smead said the peopleyou helearn works withsaid make his“You job “Just working in there, a lot,” Allen. satisfying and rewarding. learn about all the responsibilities of the squadron, fuel, “I’m always asking questions about how things work handlers–You learn everything about Air department.” and there’s always someone around who knows the answer,” Smead said the people he works with make his job Smead said. “It’s good to have resources like that.” satisfying and rewarding. “I’m always asking questions about how things work Continued under ‘Flight Deck Control,’ Pg. 15 and there’s always someone around who knows the answer,” Smead said. “It’s good to have resources like that.” Continued under ‘Flight Deck Control,’ Pg. 15
Know Your Shipmate
Continued
Photo by and information provided by MC3 Christina Naranjo
VTC, continued from pg. 3
AOAN Alexandra Dusek Weapons Dept./G-2 Division
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viation Ordnanceman Airman Alexandra Dusek said she has grown a lot since joining the Navy, and she can testify to the service’s benefits. Before she joined, she was occupied with college, working and traveling. “I wanted to take a break from working my way to get through college,” she said. An aspiring businesswoman, Dusek looks forward to earning a bachelor’s degree in either business or culinary arts. The daughter of a Navy veteran, she grew up in a military environment. traveling often since she was a child. Her family has been stationed in Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Virginia and Florida. In her free time, she has visited many countries including Mexico, Canada, Panama and Spain (her favorite). She dreams of someday adding England to the list. Dusek joined the Navy in April 2009. She takes pride in the idea that people at such a young age are responsible for millions of dollars worth of equipment and the lives of their shipmates whereas in the civilian world, people go to school
for longer periods of time to do the same job. “I’ve seen many successes in the Navy. Young people I know have houses, cars and insurance because the Navy gave them the opportunity to obtain that,” she said. She enjoys her job and said she has enjoyed her Navy experience. She said she still remembers the butterflies she felt when she shot a weapon for the first time. Her favorite weapon is the M-240B, a weapon she is capable of assembling blindfolded. “It is a lot more fun and easier to maneuver than a .50 caliber,” she said. “Before joining, I never thought I’d touch a gun.” Part of Weapons department’s G-2 division, she has mastered maintenance, standing watches and performing administrative filing for the division. She enjoys her job, her division and her rate. “I would be proud to defend this ship if it was ever to be attacked,” she said. Dusek plans to return to school once the ship enters the yards. Still amazed by the Navy, she plans to stay in. “I’m not done learning yet.”
“Things like VTC make life better while on deployment,” said Pickle. “Every sea tour, we’re getting more and more comfort features.” Warley said the ultimate purpose of the teleconferences is to boost the morale of Sailors with families, back home which will result in more productivity and less distractions while working. “Lincoln has always taken pride in putting our Sailors first,” said Warley. “This is just one program that shows that. Hopefully when other commands see what a positive effect this has on Sailors, the program will be more common around the fleet.” FLIGHT DECK CONTROL, continued from pg. 12 Along with working with Sailors from a variety of aviation ratings, Flight Deck Control Sailors also get the opportunity to work side-by-side with senior enlisted Sailors and officers, who offer them mentorship and guidance based on decades of experience. “Working with the khakis is awesome,” said Allen. “At first it was intimidating, but they’re pretty cool. I’ve been studying for advancement and my air warfare pin, and they help answer a lot of my questions.” Smead said working directly under the khakis is gratifying because it allows him to see the direct product of his work. Flight Deck Control works hard to ensure that Lincoln is able to carry out its mission--the safe launching and recovery of aircraft.
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